I Had Mexican Food For Lunch and I Got Something That Wasn't Indigestion!

Love  and delicious Mexican food were on my brain when I was back home in AZ with Mark-a-licious. His mother lives in AZ, but an hour and a half from my parents, so we had separate Christmas celebrations with our respective families and were excited to see each other the following week. We had lunch at a cute Mexican food joint where we had our first date (doesn't look like much, but it's pretty legit, just in case you are ever in Scottsdale and have an enchilada craving!) and then ambled around Old Town Scottsdale for a while. There are so many cheesy, tourist boutiques brimming with bolo ties and kachina dolls and it is quite entertaining to take it all in. I brought my camera in case I saw anything cool, like this giant reproduction of a Marco Polo sheep:

Or ram. Whatever it is.

On our walk, we also stumbled across the giant L.O.V.E statue. It's a reproduction of the classic 60's design by Robert Indiana and several of them around the world (Philly and NYC are the US locations that come to mind). I decided I needed a few snaps of my outfit for this blog because I can't remember the last time I did an outfit post.

You can't really see me, but for once, it wasn't due to my photography skills. Or lack thereof!

And that's the last photo of me as a single lady. He proposed right after he took two photos-- I had to come down and check them out and he happened to be on his knee to get the right sun angle (yeesh, I can't believe I didn't see it coming!) and the rest was a blur of adorableness. It turns out that the whole "aimless" walk was totally orchestrated and I had played into his plans perfectly by requesting a picture near the statue. In retrospect, I think it was the perfect moment because although there were lots of people out walking in the park that day, we were alone at the statue at the moment he popped the question (which was nice because I am shy and fearful of attention in public....which is why I have a blog and not a TV show, hehe).

My only regret about the whole day was that I did not have a passerby take a photo of the two of us together. I was so surprised and excited it slipped my mind until much later. But I do enjoy that the formerly-known-as-cheesy statue makes me smile when I see photos of it now.

Yes, yes, I have learned how this goes, everyone always asks about the ring, so here it is:

It is from the early 1900's and belonged to his great-great aunt. I am very honored to have been entrusted with it and I am nervous about taking care of it! It is funny that the ring was not designed for me, but it is definitely something I would have picked for myself, so I feel very lucky.

Lastly, this won't turn into a wedding blog, don't worry, but I have been going crazy on Pinterest, and my wedding board is growing exponentially. Check it out here!


Any advice for weddings? Did you see the proposal coming? If you did, I want you to pick lotto numbers for me ;) Hehe, have a great weekend and give someone you love a hug today!

Happy New Year!

We're off to a great start! I put off the yoga attending and job seeking today to spend "wif muh man" because he had the day off work. We lunched on rustic pizza at a new (to us) place downtown and walked around in the falling snow until my fingers became numb (which was longer than 30 seconds, just for the record, I'm acclimating!!). It feels like everything is in the right place, and I am glad we had a relaxing day before reality begins again tomorrow.

Snow on the leaves outside. Pretty, until you realize what "windchill" is all about.

 
I hope everyone had a great NYE celebration and that 2012 is the best year yet for you all!!

Merry Christmas!!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas with the people you love most. I am definitely enjoying my time back home with my family and will certainly return home with a cheery disposition (and a few extra lb's). Things have calmed down and I have time to catch-up on blogs and emails, so I thought I'd post a few of my favorite things from today...

 Cinnamon rolls with gooey glaze (way better than icing, trust me!) are a tradition for Christmas breakfast.

This year, the tree was decorated with my grandparents' vintage ornaments from the 1930's and 40's. It's nice to have mementos around to remind me of them :)

And because it's okay to get excited about your presents like a little kid, I have some of my gifts on display. I loved everything that I received (my family members are the MOST thoughtful. Ever.) and am especially excited about my two new pairs of Sam Edelman flats because I can put them to use immediately! (FYI- they are on top of a new trench coat in the photo, just in case the background looks funny)....

*Sorry for the poor photo quality, but I forgot to pack necessary camera equipment and have been using my phone... and I am lazy, don't judge*

The best part, of course, is my family, but I will reserve plastering their faces all over the internet for Facebook ;) I hope you are all having a very Merry Christmas and that you are looking forward to the New Year as much as I am!

Week Three of Unemployment: No Criminals! (Knock on wood)

No police officers or criminals banging down my front door this week, so I have felt a little bored at times, but my lackadaisical leanings vanish when I remember that I am going home for Christmas for two whole weeks on Saturday morning! This week has been a scramble of present-making, laundry and brainstorming for packing two weeks of clothing for a variety of events into ONE suitcase. It is a mind-bloggling game of tetris that could take now until I leave to figure out, but I am determined to make it work.

Concerning this week's happenings, I would post about the presents I have been making, but I can't ruin the surprise for the intended recipients, so instead, here is my packing inspiration of the week:
 

via Atlantic Pacific

I think I might need to pack a little more color, but I love that these few, simple pieces come together to create an awesome outfit. I think "keep it simple" should be my mantra over the next few days.... What tips to you have for efficient and stress-free packing?
Happy Tuesday, everyone!

Week Two of Unemployment: a Manhunt and a Hathunt...

When I awoke Monday, the air was full of promise. I had slept in, but not too late, (9 o'clock feels decadent but not guilt-inducing), and a delightful pair of squirrels were chatting with each other on my bedroom windowsill, sunning themselves. Feeling like Snow White/Cinderella from nature's morning embrace, (a distant embrace from outside a closed window, but whatever, I am trying to think abstractly), I cleaned for a bit and then, still riding high on the positive energy of the day, pulled out the netbook and started searching for jobs. Not 15 minutes into searching, there is pounding on my front door, so I scuffle, (fuzzy socks + hardwood floors necessitate scuffling), over to see who it is and I am shocked to see it is the police! My happy-Disney-esque-high plummets into fear as I wonder if A- there is a murderer on the loose, B- the Bf has been killed in a car accident or C- one of my elderly neighbors has been injured, or worse. As it turns out, scenario "A" is the closest to being accurate; the police ask me if "Andrew"is home and when I respond that there is no one by that name living here, they tell me that my address is his last known residence and they are looking for him. I don't know what this guy did, but not only was there a uniformed cop present, there was also cop wearing a suit + overcoat, (a detective? I need to watch Law and Order again to revisit the hierarchy and dress code), pacing up and down my driveway, barking on a phone about how the subject is "on the run and needs cover" and other things I couldn't hear because of my conversation with the uniformed officer.

As quickly as they barged into my day, the officers retreat, but not before the uniformed officer apologizes to me for waking me up (What is he talking about?! Oh wait, I'm in my pj's...great) and I respond, "Oh, no, I've been up for a while" because for some reason I don't want the officer to think I am lazy....like somehow he knows I am unemployed and he is making sure I get my laundry done?! Ha, I am fully aware that I am a dork and I fully embrace it, don't worry.

ANYWAY, after they left I started to wonder if this bandit-on-the-lam will show up at my house? Or maybe his evil bank-robbing cronies come here because this is "his last known address"?? Though I knew the chances of that were infinitesimally small, every creak in the floor boards gave me the chills and the tiny scratching sounds of the squirrels outside were no longer adorably endearing, they were sinister and scary.

Did I go crazy and hide in the linen closet until the Bf came home from work? No, but that would have meant for a lot of self-reflection and I probably would have figured out what I want to do with my life, so maybe that would have been a good option......Instead, I got out of my funk the most effective way I know how: shopping. And since I failed to mention earlier that it was ice-raining all day, online shopping seemed to be the best option and shopping for a hat to wear in the cold, snowy weather seemed like the perfect prize. Is it ironic that a man-hunt inspired a hat-hunt? I don't know, but check out some of the affordable winter hats I found:

1. Knit fabric and structure combine in this braided trim fedora from Forever21.
2. I love the look of layering, so why not continue the look on my head? Grace Hats Curi Watch Beanie at Urban Outfitters.
3. I have a friend who loves a good turban, so I thought of her when I saw this! I like the shape because it is like having earmuffs built into the hat! Free People knitted turban beanie.
4. I don't know if I am cool enough to rock this 70's-inspired, wide brim number, but I like thinking that I could ;) Deena & Ozzy felt floppy hat at Urban Outfitters.
5. I know I say this a lot, but I am amused that southwest prints are having a moment and I love this beanie's bright color palate. Coal Taos beanie.
6. This tweed fedora is classy and a little tattered--just off-beat enough to channel your inner-Olsen with a cool coat and leather leggings. JCrew two-tweed fedora.

Which one would you wear? And if you live in a climate with "real" winters, what tips and tricks do you use to pick the perfect topper?

Happy Thanksgiving!

I was in a terrible mood earlier this week. My enthusiastic attitude resulting from winning an amazing scarf give-away ( from this awesome shop--check out her blog!) was dashed when my camera broke. And by broke, I mean it literally fell on the ground and will not be working anytime soon. BUT, how can I let this get me down when there is so much I should be thankful for today?

I saw this on the DvF facebook page and thought it was tres chic and tres appropriate. I think I will make a list for myself today! I hope everyone has a happy and healthy Thanksgiving with their loved ones!

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes!

Yours truly is terrible at maintaining a blog! This should not be news to you, but it is strange considering I enjoy creating posts of my favorite things and new trends and that reading blogs is part of my daily routine. I think my priorities have gotten a little out-of-focus (but that is a topic for a whole other blog... focused on therapy! hehe) but something about feeling settled after the big move has made me want to realign the important things (and the fun things) in my life to hold a higher place on my "totem pole of focus"... In an effort to inject a little change in my life, I took a fun class this semester, I am creating a home office, (hopefully better and more consistent posts will result!), and I put in my two weeks notice at work....which is terrifying, but I know it will be good for me. I have been working a ton and will be up until the end (which is Sunday), so sorry for the lack of posts, but I will have plenty of time for posting when I am free! And unemployed (read: heart palpitation)!

In the meanwhile, I am looking for sweaters and warm wear and have been looking for ways to incorporate fun trends into my winter wardrobe. (How can I make a snow suit look less like... a snow suit??) We all know southwestern prints are having a moment and I have been enjoying the Pendleton "Portland Collection" lookbook for that reason:

Just one of the looks. But see the rest here.

I have also been spending an inordinate amount of my free (and "should be doing productive things") time on Pinterest. If any of you are on the site and I don't follow you yet, holla at your girl because I love discovering new boards. Check out my boards here and if you aren't on Pinterest yet, leave me a comment and I will invite you :)

  

I hope that this pre-Thanksgiving week finds everyone happy and healthy and to all of you peeps with M-F, 9-5 jobs--- it's almost Friday! ;)

PS- I will be in the Chicago 'burbs for Thanksgiving, any suggestions for fun and fantastic happenings that weekend? I would normally go shopping to get my Zara-fix,etc, but Black Friday + Chi-Town just seems like unnecessary stress! Maybe one of those flea markets is happening? Or something involving hot cocoa? hehe